Rabat hosted meetings of the Technical Committee and the Steering Committee of the Nigeria-Morocco Atlantic Gas Pipeline (AAGP) project, marking a decisive stage in the progress of this major energy infrastructure. These high-level meetings brought together the managing directors of the national oil companies of the countries involved, accompanied by their teams, as well as representatives of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), including the Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy and Digitalisation, and the Director of Energy and Mines. Also present were representatives of the Moroccan Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, the National Office for Electricity and Drinking Water (ONEE) and the Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy (MASEN).
In accordance with the memoranda of understanding signed between the national oil companies, these meetings provided an opportunity to take stock of the significant progress made on the project. Designed to transport 30 billion m³ of gas per year, the AAGP is making great strides on the technical, environmental and institutional fronts. The detailed engineering studies were completed in 2024, while the survey and environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) studies for the northern section have been completed. Those for the southern section, linking Nigeria and Senegal, are currently under way. The project, which will be developed in phases, is based on robust governance, with the creation of a Project Company (Holding Company) to oversee the financing and construction phases. The latter will oversee three ad-hoc companies (SPVs) dedicated to each of the identified segments.
A major institutional milestone was reached with the adoption of the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) in December 2024, at the 66th ECOWAS Summit. This agreement, which defines the rights and obligations of each country, will be officially signed in autumn 2025. These advances position the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline as a strategic lever for energy and economic integration in the region.
On the sidelines of these meetings, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), the Moroccan Office National des Hydrocarbures et des Mines (ONHYM) and the Société Togolaise de Gaz (SOTOGAZ). The document, initialled by Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC, was formalised in the presence of Mr Olalekan Ogunleye, Executive Vice President, Gas, Power & New Energy of NNPC. The memorandum, which follows SOTOGAZ's official accession to the project, is in line with the agreements signed with the other countries involved, strengthening multiparty cooperation.
The stakeholders welcomed the progress made and reaffirmed their commitment to continuing this exemplary collaboration. The ambition and scope of the AAGP embody a shared vision of sustainable development and energy sovereignty for West Africa and beyond. By connecting Nigeria's gas resources to regional and international markets via Morocco, this project promises to stimulate local economies, enhance energy security and promote an inclusive energy transition.
With these advances, the Nigeria-Morocco African Atlantic Gas Pipeline is positioned as a catalyst for regional integration, driven by a collective desire to build a sustainable and prosperous energy future for the continent.